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OP THB 

JOINT COM M ITTE E, 

APPOINTED OJY THE SUBJECT OF 

ST. JOHN'S OOUECHEL 



/ The joint ©ommittee, appointed under Resolution 

No. 41, of the session of 1832, on the subject of the pro- 
ceedings of the visitors of St. John's College, beg leave 
to 

REPORT: 
That, in the performance of the duty assigned them, 
they have, with as much care and time as could well be 
given by them to the subject, investigated and examin- 
ed, the proceedings and conduct of the college, since 
the last report made to the General Assembly 
and it is due to the visitors and governors, and fa- 
culty of the institution, to state that they have not on- 
ly satisfied all the requirements of the resolution here- 
in referred to, but that they have most cheerfully done 
much more than has been required by any law of the 
State. The number of professors has been increased, 
and the circle of sciences, comprehended in the course 
of the college, embraces those of the best collegiate 
courses in the union. It is also just to say, that the phi- 
losophical apparatus is greatly improved. This state of 
things, in the college, has been followed by an increase 
of students, the number now being eighty-seven, of 
whom ten are taught according to law, without charge; 
and it is provided by a resolution of the Board of Visit- 
ors and Governors, that twenty others may receive at the 
College education gratuitously. Since their appointment 
your Committee*have had an opportunity of witnessing 



•Si 



01 



t Commencement in the College, and they would betru- 
ant to their own feelings, and the duty they owe the le- 
gislature, if they did not here express the high gratifi- 
cation they enjoyed in the distinguished display of 
learning and eloquence, made by six young gentlemen, 
which preceded the proper degrees which were confer- 
red upon them. 

By reference to the Report of a Committee of the 
Legislature, appointed to visit St. John's College, De- 
cember setsion, 1833, it will be seen, that the visitors 
and governors have resolved to solicit contributions to 
the funds of the College, to erect "an additional build- 
ing," to "extend the libiary," and \» "improve the 
chemical and philosophical apparatus." It will also be 
seen that the Committee, ''approving of the authority 
and policy of such a measure, urged it upon the consi- 
deration of the visitors and governors, and earnestly 
coirmended it to the public." 

In furtherance of these objects, at a meeting of (he 
visitors and governors, held on February loth, I8S4, it 
was "Resolved, that the Governor of the State, and Ben- 
jamin S. Forrest, and the Honourable Thomas Wright, 
3d, Members of the Board, be a committee to co-ope- 
rate with the Principal, in making all suitable prepara- 
tions for carrying into effect the resolution of the board, 
to collect subscriptions for. the benefit of this Institu- 
tion." 

The following was accordingly prepared, as a suitable 
heading fjr such a subscription: 

"We, the subscribers, hereby agree to pay to the vi- 
sitors and governors of St. John's College, at Annapolis, 
Maryland, or order, the sums of money opposite our 
na'i.es respectively, in two equal instalments, to be ap- 
plied in carrying into effect the foregoing resolutions; 
Provided however, that, this subscription shall be void, 
unless at least ten thousand dollars shall be subscribed 
as aforesaid; and on the completion of said subscription 
often thousand dollars, the first instalment above men- 
tioned shall become due, and the other instalment 
twelve months thereafter." 

In obedience to these resolutions, and under the fore- 
going arrangement, the Principal of the College under- 
took, in the month of September last, to solicit subscrip- 
tions, and is still engaged in the prosecution of this ob- 
ject, as opportunities can be spared from the more pres- 






3 

sing duties of instruction in the classes under his charge* 
Considerable success has attended the commencement 
of this undertaking. The proposed sum often thousand 
dollars, at which amount the subscriptions become bind- 
ing and payable, has been secured; and confident hopes 
are entertained, that the sum of thirty thousand dollars 
will be subscribed for the College, in the course of the 
present and following year. 

At a meeting of the board held January 1st, 1835, it 
was resolved by the visitors and governors to proceed to 
the erection of at least one additional building to be occu- 
pied by an officer of .;oilege, with his family, and to ac- 
commodate as boarders, as many as forty students. Judi- 
cious plans for the buildings have been completed, and the 
work is expected to be commenced as early in the spring as 
it shall be advisable to lay the foundations for the walls. 

It is also designed, in case similar success shall contin- 
ue to attend the efforts of the Principal to obtain funds, 
to erect another separate building for the exclusive accom- 
modation of the grammar school, which is now kept in one 
of the public rooms of the College to the mutual disad- 
vantage of both branches of the Institution. A Professor 
of long experience has recently been appointed to the 
charge of the school; and there will be no delay other 
than such as may be occasioned by a v*ant of the necessary 
means to furnish him with a new building, of the most ap- 
proved construction, in which the teachers who may b« 
employed in that department shall be able much more ef- 
fectually to advance the prosperty of the whole Institutioa. 

By a resolution of the legislature, passed December ses- 
sion 1833, chapter 95, the geologist of Maryland, was di- 
rected for the use and benefit of the State, to deposit in 
St. John's College, such minerals as he might collect in the 
course of his researches, under that appointment* Under 
this resolution a very interesting collection has been com- 
menced on a scale vvhieh promises great and permanent be- 
nefit to the State; and should it continue to increase in pro- 
portion to the number and value of the specimens deposit- 
ed during the piesent year, will soon become a source of 
gratification and advantage to our own citizens, and an ob- 
ject of interest to the curious in other States, who are en- 
gaged in the same useful branch of science. 

Your committee have great pleasure and satisfaction in 
resting for a moment on the geological cabinet which now 
forms a p art of the college, which is entirely worthy of 



Professor Ducatel, who has contributed so largely to its 
usefulness and ornament, and which of itself so well do- 
velopes the abundant resources of the State. — The bene- 
fits lo accrue from facilities thus afforded to the students, 
for acquiring the requisite knowledge, to pursue investiga- 
tions of this kind, in the respective Districts to which they 
may belong, can hardly fail to be highly appreciated. It 
is evident that a succession of ripe scholars, graduating 
from the College, and possessing a full acquaintance with 
such mineralogical localities in Maryland as are already 
ascertained, will be able to make similar examinations arid 
researches more readily, extensively and successfully than 
will ever be practicable, if the same concentration of ef- 
fort shall not be continued. 

The cabinet oroper, of the College, has also been much 
enlarged by individual donations during the past year, and 
affords ample illustrations for the Professor of Mineralogy, 
and Geology, to be employed in the course ofh s lectures. 
These two cabinets are deposited in one room, at the col- 
lege, where they are subject to the inspection of any citizen 
of the State; and it is not doubted, that valuable additions 
will be made to this collection by the members of the le- 
gislature, whose attention may be directed to the develope- 
ment of the mineral resources of our soil. 

St. John's College came under the consideration of a 
most respectable Committee of the Legislature, consisting 
io one from a County, and one from the City of Baltimore, 
In 1830 appointed to visit the Primary School of Annapo- 
is. It was recommended by that Committee, to make 
public provision at St. John's College, for the education of 
teachers for the schools in Maryland. The most important 
change in the Institution, contemplated by the Committee, 
in reference to this object, has already been accomplished*, 
viz: A new organization of the board of visitors and gov- 
ernors, by which ten of the highest functionaries of the 
State Government, are introduced into that board. For 
the complete education of teachers at this Institution, no 
furtherchange in its course of studies or general govern- 
ment, is necessary. The only desideratum, would be sup- 
plied by the endowment of a professorship, to be filled by 
some gentleman of high attainments and experience, whose 
attention has been devoted to this subject, and whose time 
should be occupied exclusively in lecturing and instructing 
the classes in the College formed for this purpose, It need 
aot be insisted on, that such a branch of rational investiga- 



tkm, Is specifically distinct from every other'study. It tt 
proverbial, that the highest acquirements in knowledge, do 
not necessarily include a capacity to instruct — Indeed, the 
most successl ul teachers, are not unfequently men of ordi- 
nary abilities, and of not the most extensive erudition. 
The materials for such a department of Institution, deve- 
loped by the universal inquiiiesof the last few years, are 
ample and invaluable; and as collected and embodied, in the 
journals of education, in Europe, and in our own country, 
are open to the inspection of such as enjoy the time and op- 
portunity to read and digest the information which they 
contain. It is not to be doubted, that a professorship of 
this sort, in any College in our country, would not be sur- 
passed, for practical utility by any other professorship that 
is usually found in such Institutions. And the advantage! 
of such a professorship, would no where be so properly 
appreciated, as in a State like Maryland, where the supply 

/of teachers is so unequal to the demand, that hundreds are 
reduced to the inconvenience and uncertainty of procuring 
them from abroad — St. John's has furnished several res. 
pectable teachers from among her graduates, during the 
last few years; and it is not the least among the considera- 
tions which encourage the visitors and governors, in their 
present undertaking; that the increased patronage, which 
the Institution may secure, by the better accommodation* 
to be afforded in the new buildings, will perhaps, ultimate- 
ly enable them to make this further and more ample provi- 
sion, to meet the requisitions which its original patriotic 
founders intended should be made upon this Ancient Semi- 
nary of the Slate. 

Too much credit cannot be awarded to the Principal of 
the College for his untiring and successful efforts to extend 
its usefulness — he deserves not only the thanks, but the co- 
operation of the State. 

In conclusion, your Committee have pleasure in com- 
mending St. John's College to the most favorable conside- 
ration of the General Assembly. 

B. S. FORREST, Chairman, 

Of the Committee of the Senate. 
J. S. COTTMAN, Chairman, 

Of the Committee of the H. of Delegatei. 



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